Studio Headphones
Pay careful attention. Studio headphones are ideal for hearing the finer points of a mix. Headphones are a must-have tool for any producer, especially when you don't want to be too loud on your studio monitors.
Studio Headphones Information
Headphones have become the ideal portable - and intimate - method to listen to music. And for good reason: ear-to-ear audio has advanced dramatically in terms of technology, quality, and selection since the first stereo headphones were produced in the 1940s. Previously, early headphones were primarily used for communication; radio, telegraph, and telephone operators utilized them long before current DJs and mixing engineers.
Circumaural headphones vs. supra-aural headphones
There are numerous brands and models available, each with its unique set of strengths and advantages. On a broad level, headphones are classified into two types: circumaural and supra-aural. Circumaural headphones completely envelop the ear, whereas supra-aural headphones have earcups that sit on the surface of the ear. Circumaural headphones are frequently superior at isolating sound because they completely surround the ear. When looking at circumaural and supra-aural headphones, you'll see that certain types are labelled as "open" or "closed." A rigid, shell-like cover closes the outside of the earcups with closed headphones, isolating listeners in their own aural universe – free of outside noise.
What factors should I consider before purchasing headphones?
If you're just beginning started with your headphone collection, or if you're looking for a second pair for different use cases, knowing the buying variables while browsing will help you limit your selections significantly. The following are the most important elements to consider while purchasing headphones.
Engineering vs. recording: When it comes to a pair of headphones, recording artists and audio engineers have different requirements. Closed-back or semi-open headphones may be preferred by a singer or rapper for monitoring while recording and reducing audio bleed back into the microphone in order to get a clean performance. Recording artists and producers can also get away with using headphones with less-than-flat frequency responses. Meanwhile, audio engineers frequently prefer open-back headphones with a flat and accurate frequency response for use in conjunction with their other studio monitors. Open-back headphones provide a wide range of stereo separations, allowing audio engineers to make key mixing decisions during sessions. One disadvantage is that open-back headphones might leak audio, making them unsuitable for use when recording or working in a noisy area.
Headphone amplification and impedance: Impedance is just the ohm measurement of how much amplification is required to power and use your headphones. To some extent, all headphones require amplification – a common impedance level is 32 ohms. Audio engineers that seek more accurate frequency responses and sound production will employ headphones with a higher impedance level, necessitating more amplification. Impedance matching is necessary so that you know which headphones are compatible with your devices.
Wireless vs. wired: Some recording artists and engineers prefer wire-free monitoring, which is liberating whether you operate across a huge studio console or frequently move one set of headphones between rooms. Be aware that Bluetooth capabilities can induce latency, which may necessitate further settings to be usable when tracking or recording.
Driver Dimensions: The world of headphone driver count and size can rapidly become complicated. The most important thing to remember is that a larger driver size often corresponds with better frequency response and stereo imaging in your headphones. Additional drivers are often only necessary when purchasing for in-ear and live sound monitoring.
Studio headphones are frequently closed and circumaural; they provide the highest sound quality and noise isolation for mixers, musicians, and engineers. Because of this isolation, musicians don't have to worry about their headphone mix seeping into microphones, which is essential for professional-quality recording. Of course, once the music has been tracked, studio headphones provide fans and professionals with an extraordinarily lush, high-fidelity listening experience.